The charm of Piemonte wine

By Jun Kyoung-woo

MICHELE CHIARLO BAROLO ‘CEREQUIO’ DOCG

G.D. Vajra Barolo DOCG Albe

Vinchio-VaglioSerra Barolo DOCG 2004

Italy boasts 3,000 years of history in wine.

It produces grapes in almost all of the regions in its land which stretches 1,200 kilometers from North to South. In terms of cultivation area, it ranks third in the world and second to France in terms of consumption and production rate.

Italian wine hasn’t been recognized as much as the French but, with an expo being held this year in Italy, Italian wine is coming under the spotlight.

The mass wine production region closest to where the expo is being held in Milan is Piemonte Province.

Piemonte wines are conservative and royal compared to their rivals from the Toscana region. The wine producers here have steadily established their reputation by growing grapes and producing wine using methods handed down by their ancestors in the centuries-old land.

Excluding the type of wine categorized as Super Toscan, the wine makers of each region in Italy, including Piemonte, stick to indigenous grapes.

If Sangiovese is the grape representing Toscana wine, Nebbiolo is the main grape of Piemonte.

The name Nebbiolo originates from the word nebula in Latin which means fog. Family members cultivating a grape field on a low mountainside covered by fog are an often spotted scene in the Piemonte region.

Two hours away from Milan by car is Alba, the center of Piemonte Province. Barolo here is known to have the most expensive of the vineyards in the world along with Bourgogne.

The terroir, which refers to the wine cultivation environment, is optimal here. This town is home to Vittorio Emanuele II who unified Italy in 1861 and is also the residential area of the royal House of Savoy (Casa di Savoia) family. So Barolo wine is also called the “king’s wine” and the “king of wines.”

Barolo wine has a heavy full-body flavor exuding a combination of complex aromas of cherry, rose, chocolate, and cigarette tar.

If the Barolo is too heavy, try the more soft and graceful “Barbaresco” which is referred to as the "queen of wines."

The Nebbiolo wines are suitable for long-term maturing. At least seven to eight years should pass in the vintage years to enjoy the proper taste. There are a variety of other wines produced in Piemonte such as the soft red Dolcetto, which is dry with rich fruity aromas, the white Moscato, which is popular in Korea with a strong aroma and sweet taste, and the sparkling Spumante from the Asti region in Piemonte.

For a full-course meal, wine pairing is possible with just those from the Piemonte region.

Meanwhile, Piemonte Province has been the most affluent region of all Italy since the Middle Ages and is also considered a gourmet hub. The region is famous as a land for ingredients.

Among the truffles, which are designated as the world’s three greatest delicacies, the highest quality white truffles are found here along with gorgonzola cheese and hazelnuts.

MICHELE CHIARLO BAROLO

‘CEREQUIO' DOCG

Michele Chiarlo is the founder of the most famous, eponymous wine brand which is a member of Grandi Marchi, an association of premium Italian wine brands.

The brand is the number one export brand from Piemonte and boasts the best value for price.

His vinery possesses the top single vineyards of Barolo, Barbera, and Barbaresco wines and is famous as an art park with a unique landscape design, which has become the symbol of an Italian winery.

The Barolo Cerequio is a flagship wine of Michele Chiarlo. The label designed by Italian artist Gian Carlo Ferrari is notable. The wine is masculine with a deep rich garnet color and ample and firm texture with a delicate tannin flavor.

GD Vajra Barolo DOCG Albe

Vineyard GD Vajra, situated west of Barolo, is a relatively new winery established in 1972 but an excellent one which has produced wine ranked 16th on the Top 100 wines list in 2013 selected by Wine Spectator every year.

The winery is owned by the Vajra couple who took up farming after being spellbound by the beauty of Piemonte. They run it with their three children. The family produces Barolo Able in the traditional Piemonte way, aging their wine in huge oak barrels. The wine has a colorful, fruity and flowery aroma and can be stored for one to two more decades before opening.

Vinchio-VaglioSerra Barolo DOCG 2004

“Vinchio-VaglioSerra” is a winery established by 19 viticulturists from the Vinchio and Vaglio Serra regions in 1959.

Most of the vineyards are located on steep hills. Their wines are sweet due to the ample amount of sunshine the grapes absorb.

After aging for three years in a French oak barrel, the wine is bottled and aged for an extra year before being released on the market.

The wine has a deep red color and soft vanilla, violet and dark berry aromas with a soft tannin texture. The flavor is complex yet graceful and delicate, leaving a lasting finish after the drink.